Device or means for the protection of carpets and the like.



N. HARROP.

DEVICE 0R MEANS FOR THE PROTECTION OF C-ARPETS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29. I914.

MI W L w WM & Mu W dw j a P [HE NORRIS PETERS CO. FHOm-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D C.

Patented May 18, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N. HARROP.

DEVICE 0R MEANS FOR THE PROTECTION OF CARPETS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY29,1914.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHO'I'O-LITHO.v WASHINGTON. D. C

Si A g w @TATIES PATNT @FFTQEZ NATHAN HARROP, OF STONEYOROFT, LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

DEVICE OR MEANS FOR THE PROTECTION OF CARPETS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1915.

Application filed May 29, 1914. Serial No. 841,895.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHAN HARRor, a subject of the King of England, residing at 20 Kremlin Drive, Stoneycroft, Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in or Connected with Devices or Means for the Protection of Carpets and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to attachable and detachable devices or means for the protection of carpets and the like, and held by the carpet itself, especially carpets such as stair carpets, in which it is frequently desired to cover, temporarily, the carpet proper with a protective covering, for the purposes of taking rough use, and preventing them being dirtied and unduly worn, and the saving of labor, time, and expense.

For convenience, the invention will be mainly described as applied to the protection of carpets on stairs.

The protective means or devices according to'this invention, constituting a covering or tread surface, are constructed and adapted to engage or be held by, or lie under the tread side edges or such edges and the other tread portion of the carpet, and lie over the flat on which the foot is placed; and constitute when applied or in position, the actual surface which takes the weight and wear of users of the stairs, in going up and down. In one form, the main surface or article will extend in the shape of a comparatively broad strip over the carpet, having at each end a clip, hook, or the like, adapted to fit under the carpet, either to a small extent or more or less over the whole extent, or in an intermediate degree, and engage the carpet, and hold the device in place.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and the further description of it will be made with their aid.

Figure 1 shows in perspective view, the application of the invention to a stair-carpet; Figs. 2 and 3 are plan, and front view respectively, of the form of carpet protecting device or means. Fig. 4 is a plan showing slightly modified form of the device. Figs. 5 and 6 are plans in detail; Figs. 7 and 8 are plan and front view; and Fig.

9 another plan in detail, showing a slightly modified form of the device.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 is the main tread surface or covering of the device, consisting of a broad strip of material which lies over the carpet 2.

3 is the part of the device adapted to fit under the carpet, and engage it and hold the device in position.

4 represents the fastening device or means of securing the two parts 1 and 3 together at their ends.

In the arrangement and construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3, one part or end of the part 3 is in the form ofahinged clip 5, which is secured to the end of the tread portion proper 1, by the fastening eyelet or rivet 4. The inner part or edge of the clip 5 is curved, as shown; and the end of the part forming the other portion of the holding means or part has a gap 7 on it, into which the part 5 moves when it is in position, and turned around under the carpet, engaging the edge of same. The other and non-movable end parts of the parts 1 and 3 are fixed together by a rivet or eyelet fastener 4; it being similar to that at the other end (except that these parts need not have relative movement but may) and this part of the holding part 3 extends under the carpet to the edge of the rise 8 of the stairs (see Fig. 1), and so helps to hold the whole device in position in the horizontal plane, with the part or tread surface 1 standing over the front edge or part of the carpet. The parts, that is the ends of the device or protecting means which are connected together, project, as shown in the drawings, beyond the edge of the carpet 2; and these parts are connected together, as explained, by their fasteners 41: and 4:.

To fasten the device or means in position on the carpet, in the case of the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 being used, the main portion of the under'part 3 will be slid endwise under the carpet; and the part 1, with the hinged or movable part 5 of the end part, will lie on the top of the carpet; and this part 5, when the device is properly in position, will be moved about its hinge under the carpet edge; and the application and fixing of the appliance will be complete.

In the case shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, a projecting corner 9 is provided at one side of the part 5, which stands out beyond the semicircular end of the upper part 1; and by this part, the part 5 may be taken by the finger and thumb, and more easily worked in the fixing and unfixing actions. 7

In the modification shown in Fig. i, the fasteners 4 of the upper and lower parts 1 and 8 of the protecting device, consist of a rubber or like band, which passes over the two projecting end parts of the upper and lower plates 1 and 3; and at their edges the fasteners 4: lit in gaps or notches 10 in them. In this case, if desired (and in others where suitable) the lower holding portionB which lies beneath the carpet may have holes 11 in it, and be attached or fastened permanently to the flat of the stair.

Regarding the modification in Fig. 5, in this case in addition to the two main parts being held together by a rubber band fastener 4 similarly as in Fig. 4, there is employed a metal or like plate 13 on the end of the upper part 1, having a clasp 12 on it, similar to a purse clasp, which, when the parts are in place, may be moved about the hinge, so as to grasp and engage the two projecting ends of the upper part 1, and the lower part 3, together, and prevent these two end parts from opening. This metal plate part 18, also serves to hold a carpet or other covering 14: on the part 1, the ends ofwhich are secured between the plates and part 1, and so prevents these ends becoming pulled or frayed, and forms a binding to same.

In Fig. 6, the fasteners 4 each consist of a capped clip or clasp, which fits over the two ends of the parts 1 and '3 which proj ect beyond the carpet both above and below, and at the front and back edges, and holds them together in all directions.

In the arrangements shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the fastening device 4 is in the form of a hook, fastened to the end of the part 3,

and adapted to slide through a corresponding eye or loop 15 on the under side of the upper or tread portion 1; this eye or loop, being preferably of metal, and secured to or formed on a plate which lies both under and over the ends of the tread 1, as shown in the figure. In this case, also, there is a hook or gage 16, connected to the front edge of the number part 8, which, when the device is in use, would lie against the part of the carpet which lies on the ordinary projecting edge of the flats of the stairs; and these devices prevent the protector from being moved inward, or getting out of place. In this case, the under part 3 will be in two parts, so that these two parts can be slid under the carpet from each side, and the fasteners 4* slid readily into engagement with the loops or eyes 15. The upper and lower partsl and 3, in this construction, are separated from the othera considerable distance as shown, so that this form of device will be specially applicable to, and serviceable in connection with carpets which are very thick.

In the modification shown in Fig. 9, the fastener 4: at the two projecting ends of the upper and lower parts 1 andv 3, consists of a pin or wire pin 4 passed or threaded through holes in the two parts; or, instead of pins or wire, these parts may be laced together.

The tread or protecting device or means may be made of any suitable material, such as paper, artificial boardfor example papier mach, cardboard or asbestos board or the like, or any suitable composition, or textile material, preferably stiffened in some suitable way, or having a certain amount of stiffness, but will, nevertheless, be flexible;

and the upper and lower parts 1, and 3 may be secured together in any suitable way.

With regard to the modifications of formations of parts and fastenings, described with reference to and shown in the drawings,

these aremerely illustrative of the difierent manners in which the invention may be constructed or applied; which according to the character and quality of the carpet in con nection with which the device is to be used,

the size of the stairs, the width of the car-.

pet, and othercircumstances, and requirements, willnecessarily vary somewhat; and while these illustrate and show examples of the invention, it is in no way restricted to these forms and construction -of parts and many modified ways of carrying it out, within the limits of the characteristics covered by the claims, may be adopted without departing from its general character and scope.

What is claimed is 1. A stair carpet protection device com- I prising members placed adjacent and above and below the carpet, the ends of said members extending beyond the edges of the car pets and having their ends connected to geth'er.

2. A stair carpet protection device comprising members placed adjacent and above and below the carpet at the tread of the stairs, one of said members having a recess in one edge, means for connecting the said members near one end, and a latch pivoted to one of said members and fitting in the recess in the adjacent member.

3. A stair carpet protection device comprising members placed adjacent and above and below the carpet and having their ends projecting beyond the edges thereof, and means for connecting the said projecting ends.

4. A stair carpet protection device comprising members placed adjacent, and above and below the carpet, and having their ends projecting beyond the edges thereof the ends of the said members being removably connected.

5. A stair carpet protection device comprising members placed adjacent above and below the carpet, the ends of the members projecting beyond the edges of the carpet, the said projecting ends connected, one of the said connections being detachable.

6. A stair carpet protection device comprising plates placed adjacent, above and below the carpet, the edges of the plates projecting beyond the edges of the carpet, and means connecting the projecting ends of the plates.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 15 name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

NATHAN HARROP.

Witnesses:

SOMERVILLE GooDALL, JOHN TOPHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

